x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Public Defenseless

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of

government politics

All Episodes

01:14:10

443 | Will San Joaquin County Public Defenders be the...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/11

Today, Hunter was joined by Judyanne Vallado, the Chief Public Defender in San Joaquin County, California. With a tough on crime DA and large amounts of gun crime, the San Joaquin County Public Defenders have long delt with difficult workloads, but now, with Prop 36 prosecutions increasing felony charges, the office may soon have to make the choice about when enough is enough. Guest: Judyanne Vallado, Chief Public Defender, San Joaquin County, California Resources: Learn more about the

en

01:07:25

442 | How Alameda County Public Defense is Dealing...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/10

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods. This time, they discuss how the office is handling their ever increasing workload due to Prop 36, how ICE enforcement is impacting their clients and communities, and why the state of California desperately needs to give county public defenders the protections they need to be independent voices for their communities. Guest: Brendon Woods, Chief Public Defender, Alameda County, California Resources: Learn more

en

01:11:23

441 | With Dems in Control, Will Virginia Finally...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/05

Today, Hunter spoke once again with Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennedy from Justice Forward Virginia. Last year, Justice Forward Virginia joined the show to discuss the 2025 criminal justice policies being floated in Virginia. Today, Rob and Bryan are here to discuss what the 2026 legislative session has in store for criminal justice reform in Virginia, and how things might be different now that the Dems control all three branches of government. Guest Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director, Justice

en

01:06:19

440 | How Public Defenders Can Build Political...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/03

Today, Hunter was joined by Stephen Saloom, the Director of Concerts of Indigent Defense. He joined the show to discuss Concerts for Indigent Defense and the share with us the lessons he has learned over a career of advocating for and passing criminal justice reform policies. Guest: Stephen Saloom, Director, Concert for Indigent Defense Resources: Learn More About Concerts for Indigent Defense https://concertsforindigentdefense.org/ Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit

en

01:05:53

439 | The Lawsuit Challenging Louisiana's use of...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/02/02

Today, Hunter was joined by Samantha Pourciau of the Promise of Justice Initiative to discuss litigation they are brining to end the "Farm Line" at Angola State Prison. On previous episodes, the show has explored how Louisiana's mass incarceration system is rooted in the state's slave holding, colonial past. Few practices are more reminiscent of that past than the "farm line." This immoral practice forces men to labor in brutal, dangerous conditions for the sole purpose of sadistic punishment

en

01:10:44

438 | How to Build Emotional Intelligence Skills in...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/29

Today, Hunter was joined by Ali Bloomquist and Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD about their new paper titled "Emotion First Theory & Practice: Emotional Intelligence as Foundational Infrastructure for Equity Practice." In it, Ali and Cherise detail the importance of making the development of Emotional Intelligence as something that public defender systems and organizations need to prioritize. Without a system based approach, public defender's alone cannot be expected to develop the emotional intelligence

en

01:11:57

437 | The Cruelty is the Point: Immigration Detention...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/27

Today, Hunter was joined by the American Immigration Council's Aaron Reichlin-Melnick to discuss a new report published by AIC. Over the past two years, the Trump administration has rapidly expanded the use of and capacity of immigration detention. Aaron joins to detail how this has happened, what might come next, and the best ways to prevent it in the future. Guest: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow, American Immigration Council Resources: Read the Report

en

01:09:24

436 | The New York Laws that Could Chip Away at the...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/22

Today, Hunter was joined by Thomas Gant, a Community Organizer with the Center for Community Alternatives. Thomas joins the show to describe three different bills pending in New York that could chip away at the impacts of mass incarceration. Guest: Thomas Gant, Community Organizer, Center for Community Alternatives Resources: Email Thomas tgant@communityalternatives.org Join the Coalition here https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org/take-action https://www.communityalternatives.org/

en

01:05:52

435 | How Alaska is Punishing American Samoans for...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/21

Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Burness of Bolts Magazine to discuss his recent piece of reporting on American Samoans in Alaska. Specifically, Alex walks us through the history that gave American Samoans passports, social security numbers, but no right to vote. From there, Alex tells the story of a small American Samoan community that is facing decades in prison for voting when everyone thought they had the right to. Guest: Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts Magazine Resources: Read

en

01:16:48

434 | Why is a San Francisco Judge Threatening to...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/20

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Mano Raju, the elected Chief Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender Office. Last time he was one the show, Mano explained why he decided to stop having his attorneys accept new case assignments on certain days of the week. Now, six months later, a judge has given the office an ultimatum: Accept new cases or be held in contempt. Guest: Mano Raju, Chief Public Defender, San Francisco, California Resources: Read the Order

en

53:22

433 | How Pre-Trial Mitigation Can Save People From...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/15

Today, Hunter was joined by Max Miner the Founder of Executive Treatment Solutions. At one point in his life, Max hit rock bottom. Suffering with drug addiction, he reached the point where it thought it would be a good idea to get into a shootout with police officers. In a moment of clarity, he put down the weapon and started his road to recovery. Thanks to the work of an attorney who understood the power of pre-trial mitigation work, Max was able to get sober and avoid jail time. Now, Max works

en

01:13:33

432 | How the Denver Municipal Public Defenders...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/13

Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Flood and Dan Fitzgerald of the Denver Municipal Public Defender Office. Today's episode focuses on the holistic public defender model in the office that leans on the expertise of lawyers, social workers, and system impacted people to combat the City's efforts to punish poverty. Guest: Alex Flood, Public Defender, Denver Municipal Public Defender Office Dan Fiztgerald, Peer Support Specialist, Denver Municipal Public Defender Office Resources: Contact the

en

01:02:52

431 | Lessons Learned from Public Defender Offices...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/08

Today, Hunter was joined by Jessie Lenhardt, a Management Consultant with Moss Adams. In her time as a consultant, Jessie has helped countless government agencies, including public defenders, improve the organization structures and practices. Today, she joins the show to discuss on her reflections in helping public defender offices implement workload studies. Guest: Jessie Lenhardt, Senior Manager, Moss Adams Resources: Contact Jessie Here https://www.mossadams.com/people/jessielenhardt

en

01:13:09

430 | How Las Vegas Casinos Got a Special Court that...

Public Defenseless ·

2026/01/06

Today, Hunter was joined by Olivia Miller and Dallas Anselmo of the Clark County Public Defender Office. They joined to discuss the "corridor court" operating along the Las Vegas Strip. This specialty court, created at the urging of the casinos and resorts, funnels criminal defendants into a singular court room where people can be effectively banished from the entirety of the strip for seemingly minor crimes. In doing so, the corridor court gives casinos the power to unfairly police poverty along

en

13:28

2025 Wrap Up

Public Defenseless ·

2025/12/24

Today, Hunter wraps up 2025 with one last episode! Guest: Resources: Top 10 Episodes of 2025 334 | Was a Former Colorado Public Defender Fired for Raising Concerns over his Workload? w/Travis Weiner 335 | How Sec Def Austin Interfered with the 9/11 and U.S.S. Cole Case Plea Deals w/Allison Miller and Katie Carmon 336 | How the San Mateo Private Defender Program is Trying to Earn Back the Community's Trust w/Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra 328 | How the Laken Riley Act Could Get Innocent People Sent

en

59:50

429 | How Technology Can Improve Public Defense in...

Public Defenseless ·

2025/12/23

Today, Hunter was joined by Mohammad Al Rawi and Ryan Wolfe of ZLS.App. The three discussed how ZLS is helping public defenders improve case management with automated systems. With better case management systems, public defenders are better equipped to collect and track the data that public defenders need to justify their requests to the legislatures. Guest: Mohammad Al Rawi, Co-Founder. ZLS.app Ryan Wolfe, Co-Founder, ZLS.app Resources: Find ZLS Here https://zls.app/

en

01:01:13

428 | How Will New Leadership Handle Missouri Public...

Public Defenseless ·

2025/12/18

Today, Hunter was joined by the new Chief Public Defender for the state of Missouri, Matthew Crowell. Matthew and Hunter discussed a range of topics that Matthew is now facing as the Chief and how he hopes to tackle them. Guest: Matthew Crowell, Chief Public Defender, Missouri Resources: Contact the Missouri Public Defender Here https://publicdefender.mo.gov/ Lawsuit

en

01:09:12

427 | What Happened to Public Defense in Stanislaus...

Public Defenseless ·

2025/12/16

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Stanislaus County Chief Public Defender Jennifer Jennison. Last time she was one the show, Jennifer detailed how she made the decision to make her office unavailable for new cases because of the unethical workload in her office. Now, Jennifer is back to tell us what came of that decision and what is next for the office. Guest: Jennifer Jennison, Chief Public Defender, Stanislaus County, California Resources: Modesto Bee Reporting

en

51:42

426 | The Conservative Arkansas County Trying to Stop...

Public Defenseless ·

2025/12/11

Today, Hunter was joined by Bolts Magazine staff writer, Lauren Gill. Back in September, Lauren authored a remarkable piece about how a small county in rural Arkansas responded to the threat of a new prison being built in their back yard. Guest: Lauren Gill, Staff Writer, Bolts Mag Resources: Check Out Lauren's Work https://x.com/laurenk_gill https://boltsmag.org/authors/lauren-gill/ Read the Article Here https://boltsmag.org/arkansas-prison-franklin-county/ Contact

en

01:08:28

425 | How Ramsey County Prosecutors and Public...

Public Defenseless ·

2025/12/09

Today, Hunter was joined by Greg Egan and John Choi. For the first time on the show, a Public Defender and the District Attorney join the show at the same time to describe how their collaborative efforts have improved public safety without mass incarceration. Guest: Greg Egan, Public Defender, Ramsey County, Minnesota John Choi, Elected District Attorney, Ramsey County, Minnesota Resources: Contact John

en

235 results

Similar Podcasts

The Fly

Georgetown"s Institute of Politics and...

THE CONSTITUTION STUDY

Paul Engel

The DSR Daily

The DSR Network

The Lawfare Podcast

The Lawfare Institute

Fora do Baralho

Rádio Observador